Browning B-SS sidelock?

The Project Upland article is mostly about the box lock BSS, a very different beast but a desirable gun nevertheless.
I had a box lock BSS for several years, 12ga - opened it up to M/IM. Heavy enough to make Winchester Super Pheasant loads tolerable and christened "The Howitzer" by my friends for its long reach to hit escaping birds. However tiring to carry all day on Pelee...
 
canvasback said:
Pinepointer, what a great gun you have acquired. Especially the rarer, game scene version. Well done!
Click to expand...
Thanks!
I was pleased to see that the engraved birds actually look like the real thing, not crudely carved mystery birds. Some folks prefer the 'floral ' pattern engraving on most of the BSS Sidelocks but I am very happy to have one with game bird pattern.
Now I have to upgrade my shooting skills to do this gun justice in the field.
 
pinepointer said:
Thanks!
I was pleased to see that the engraved birds actually look like the real thing, not crudely carved mystery birds. Some folks prefer the 'floral ' pattern engraving on most of the BSS Sidelocks but I am very happy to have one with game bird pattern.
Now I have to upgrade my shooting skills to do this gun justice in the field.
Click to expand...
My BSS Sidelock was feeling lonely in the cabinet so I picked up the 28" one from Epps. Choked M or LM (0.016") and XF (0.046") as original. Rose and Scroll engraving.
Gun is in excellent shape, just needs cleaning.
I will bring them to the Double Gun Classic for some exercise if I can make it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2622.png
    IMG_2622.png
    326 KB · Views: 32
claudio o said:
The Japanese got the metallurgy correct!!!....the guns don't wear out
101's and 23's are a prefect example of that
Click to expand...
In the James Flynn article I posted earlier he said everything except the barrels and springs were investment castings, well machined and hard chrome plated. No signs of wear or peening on gun he serviced after 10,000 rounds , mostly target loads and am some duck loads.
 
I have been shooting skeet with the 26" Sidelock and finding that the Safety is very sticky/stiff. Not an easy push with the thumb. Should this wear in and become easier with use or does it need attention from a gunsmith? I'd like to bring it to the Double Gun Classic on June 7th.

The Safety on my 28" Sidelock works fine, I suspect it had more use by the previous owner than the 26" gun which had very few signs of use.
 
Big Bad said:
A gun I would have snapped up if I'd ever seen or heard of one while they were out, but in the days pre-internet an ordinary hunting guy was pretty much at the mercy of hearsay and his local gun shops.
Click to expand...
Even back then you must surely have devoured every Gun Digest and yearly buyer's guide magazine issues? I sure did, relentlessly.
sillymike said:
On the little reading I did on it, people offen mentionned a short LOP. I thought that it ought to be a non-issue, as just put a pad on it and be done with it...
- but in hindsight, it would be shame to do away with a nicely checkered buttplate

BROWNING-BSS-Sidelock-12-gauge-26inch-bbls-Game-Scene-Engraved_101553135_14961_E4573CB8C3B8A9B6.jpg
Click to expand...
It would be scandalous to delete that butt, if you really want to install a pad, have the craftshumanoid that does the job carefully cut it off. Make something nice for it or with it to display. Or I will if you send it to me.
canvasback said:
The West was a little slow in catching on the the excellent manufacturing capabilities of Japan.
Click to expand...
Something about our attitude towards our adversaries, and the stigma of WWII of course.
sillymike said:
While searching for more details about these, I kind of stumble on some Miroku sidelock identified as "My Luck"... kind of a weird name if you ask me, but something probably got lost in the translation

BC-MIROKU-inch-MY-LUCKinch-MODEL-FE-II-FULL-SIDELOCK-WITH-HOLLAND-STYLE-ENGRAVING_101265102_18376_D1F32E967CDD1BCD.jpeg
Click to expand...
"Hey friend, what are you carrying there?"... "Just My Luck!"
struff55 said:
japan never made cheap junk and we're always regarded as quality manufactures
guns cars motorcycles tools
not sure how you determined that they madd junk
they are still ahead of every world manufacture
Click to expand...
Japan did make some cheap #### early on for the NA market, and the pricing they had to offer to get in the door was so low it sure didn't help. I remember when a Calgary home builder had a promotion, if you bought the front drive garage model, it came with a Honda Civic 1200 in the garage. The car cost ~$1200 I think.

1748558826681.png
Mike Webb said:
Much the same as China's reputation for cheap stuff now. Post ww2 Japan produced a lot of cheaply made goods for export mainly because their manufacturing base was in ruins courtesy of the US Air Force. They earned a reputation for taking western products, copying them and in the end producing goods that were superior to western stuff.
Click to expand...
The consumer public's image of Japan would be a smoking ruin from a pic they saw or news programs, but nevermind, I have a fantastic new top quality line of products from Ukraine just ready to launch. Meanwhile China has the most sophisticated manufacturing industry in the world.
pinepointer said:
Thanks, Attached are some pics from the store and a very thorough article from Double Gun Shop Forum. My Gun has the second engraving pattern, showing game birds, and was from the last production year 1987. Very tight, hardly used. Tried it out at the skeet range and works fine. Just need to shoot it more to loosen things up a little and get the hang of using double triggers.
Click to expand...
I can hear the workers who made that gun laughing at something in the break room over coffee. Or tea probably.
pinepointer said:
In the James Flynn article I posted earlier he said everything except the barrels and springs were investment castings, well machined and hard chrome plated. No signs of wear or peening on gun he serviced after 10,000 rounds , mostly target loads and am some duck loads.
Click to expand...
The bike I will never sell is a Yamaha, when it launched in 2010 the market said it was a copy cat, behind the times, too big, too weak, etc. But Yam sent two of them all over the world, then did a promo where they took the heads and engine cases off and inspected the motor at a press event. It was like brand new, close to literally, everywhere inside those cases. It was a big mileage number but the ride the world craze was in full throttle mode at the time.

The Japanese are no less competent than any other serious country, they make good stuff and bad, how much do you want to spend?
 
Last edited:
pinepointer said:
Thanks. I have cleaned bores and wiped down externally but not touched the internals. I put a drop of oil under the safety slider yesterday but no change to behaviour.
Click to expand...
Personally, I like to put a little grease.

If the gun will be a user, it might be worth your while to obtain a set of properly sized screwdrivers, to be able to remove the sidelocks (without damaging the screws) and be able to do your own cleaning and lubing
 
sillymike said:
Personally, I like to put a little grease.

If the gun will be a user, it might be worth your while to obtain a set of properly sized screwdrivers, to be able to remove the sidelocks (without damaging the screws) and be able to do your own cleaning and lubing
Click to expand...
Yes the last thing I want to do is ruin the gun by bodging the screws! The challenge will be finding screwdrivers that fit.......
 
pinepointer said:
I would welcome any recommendations for a gunsmith near GTA who can do that.
Click to expand...

Claudio O, the member here who started the thread on the Parker 28 ga resto is one of the finest SxS smiths in NA and I’m not exaggerating. He’s in the GTA. Not sure making turnscrews is on his agenda but if you need work done on the gun, you won’t find better.

Remember with smiths, there is skill speed and price. You usuallt get what you pay for and the good guys have a line up out the door.
 
canvasback said:
Claudio O, the member here who started the thread on the Parker 28 ga resto is one of the finest SxS smiths in NA and I’m not exaggerating. He’s in the GTA. Not sure making turnscrews is on his agenda but if you need work done on the gun, you won’t find better.

Remember with smiths, there is skill speed and price. You usuallt get what you pay for and the good guys have a line up out the door.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your helpful suggestion
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom